Chavan seeks meeting of CMs on power crisis

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday asked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers to discuss the acute power shortage which he said had affected at least five states.

In a letter to Modi, Chavan said that after competitive bids for power supply from private sector firms were finalized, some ‘serious issues regarding fuel availability’ arose.

Also, "legal challenges have emerged due to change in laws that have led to disputes arising out of the Power Purchase Agreement...As a result...private generators have expressed inability to continue with the operation. This has led to large-scale load shedding across the state (Maharashtra)," the letter said.

The problem had become acute due to the ongoing Ganesh festival, he pointed out.

Chavan further said that to find a solution to this crisis, he met Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal alongwith NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on August 30, where "it was felt that in view of the magnitude of the problem and its national ramification, the matter needs to be resolved at the highest level".

The power shortage problem was being faced by at least five states and it called for larger consultation and involvement of the Centre, so a meeting of concerned Chief Minister should be called, Chavan said.